ABSTRACT
The field of adult education needs to address disability and the increasing presence of people with disabilities (PWD) in adult education. In 2006, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) acknowledged that “the 650 million people in the world living with disabilities . . . lack the opportunities of the mainstream population. They encounter a myriad of physical and social obstacles” (United Nations, 2007, para. 2); however, more than a decade later, there is still limited focus on disability in adult education. Understanding the historical context of disability and its connection to social justice is vital to educators, program administrators, policymakers, and researchers involved in educating adults in a variety of contexts so adult learners can be better served.
